Bromine recovery



Patented Mar. 13, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES 1. ANDREW, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO GENERAL MOTORS CORCPORATION, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION 01' nnnawm.

BBOMINE RECOVERY.

No Drawing.

This invention relates to the recovery of bromine in relatively insoluble compounds from saline solutions, such, for example, as 1, sea water. The object of the invention is to provide a process particularly ada ted for treating large volumes of saline solutions containing bromine so as to recover a large part of the bromine content. and avoid side reactions and hydrol sis which would materially affect the yiel As one example of a method of carrying out my invention, when treating sea water such as is found in the Atlantic Ocean, con- 4 sea water .6 of a ployed without using any acid. In

taining .006% bromine in the form of soluble bromides, I may take for one ton of this pound of concentrated sulfuric acid, .1065 lbs. of chlorine and .072 lbs. of aniline sulfate. rine are thoroughly mixed with the sea water and then the aniline sulfate is thor: oughly mixed with this treated water, preferably in as short a time as possible. The reaction takes place without heating. The product of this reaction tribromaniline, may be separated from the sea water by filtration, flotation, or other methods. Elemental bromine may be obtained from tribromaniline. In commercial work, I refer to add the acid first and then the c 10- rine, but the order of these steps is not essential.

In the above example, I have employed substantially two atoms of chlorine to each atom of bromine present in the sea water. This apparently gives the maximum yield of tribromanihne. However, I may vary the proportion of chlorine from between one and two atoms to each atom of bromine to more than two atoms of chlorine to each atom of bromine. The acidifying of the mixture with sulphuric, hydrochloric or other strong mineral acids adds materially to the yield, the yield increasing as the acidity is increased even when several times the quantity of acid used in the example above is employed. However, the process may be emlace of aniline sulfate I may use aniline hydrochloride, or other salts of aniline, or a compound reacting with bromine to give an insoluble compound.

In commercial'work the acid, chlorine and aniline sulfate may be diluted as with sea water prior to mixing with the body of sea The acid and the chlo- Application filed October 22, 1925. Serial No. 84,208.

sea water is passed continually through alppropriate mixing devices and recovery vices, turbulence being created, if desired, to effect a homogeneous mixture of the saline solution under treatment.

What I claim is:

1 A process of recovering bromine from saline solutlons, which comprises treatin the solution with more than one atom o chlorine for each atom of bromine present in the solution, and forming with the bromine an insoluble bromine compound.

2. A process of recovering bromine from saline solutions, which comprises treating the solution with more than one atom of chlorine for each atom of bromine present in the solution, acidifying the solution and forming with the bromine an insoluble bromine compound. r s

3. A process of recovering bromine from saline solutions, which comprises treating the solution with substantially two atoms of chlorine for each atom of bromine present in the solution, and forming with the bromine an insoluble bromine compound.

4. A process of recovering bromine from saline solutions, which comprises treatin the solution with substantially two atoms 0% chlorine for each atom of bromine, present in J the solution, acidifyin the solution, and forming with the bromine an insoluble bromine compound.

5. A process of recovering bromine from saline solutions, which comprises treatin the solution with more than one atom o chlorine for each atom of. bromine present in the solution, and adding an aniline salt.

6. A process of recovering bromine from saline solutions, which comprises treating the solution with more than one atom of chlorine for each atom of bromine present saline solutions, which comprises treating chlorine for each atom of bromine present in the solution with substantially two atoms of the solution, acidifying the solution, adding 10 chlorine for each atom of bromine present an aniline salt, and removing the bromine in the solution, acidifying the solution, and compound from the saline solution. adding an aniline salt. In testimony whereof I hereto afiix my 9. A process of recovering bromine from signature. saline solutions, which comprises treating the solution with substantially two atoms of JAMES P. ANDREW. 

